Thread: toro 580-D

Do any of you run the 580-D, I am looking at one now, how do they handle steep hillsides,I cut a river levy with 3 or 4- 60 inch hustlers now, ( my zero turns have a hard time on some of the hills) how would the 580 with a 16 foot cut compare to this and will it stay on the levy.
also would I cut down enough on man power to justify buying a used unit. thanks

I had one for a year. A decent 72" ZTR will greatly outperform these mowers, at least the 11'.

If you're in the northern climate, you're going to have a hard time keeping the rear discharge deck from clumping.

You'll want to bypass the safety switch that'll only allow you to mow in low gear, as that's about 5 mph.

If you mow alot in high gear, the hydraulics get EXTREMELY hot.

Again, search the models I listed.

I'd avoid that if I were you. The company I work for full time has one. The machine is design that way, and in the end when you blow out your hyrdo system on one of this your going to be dishing out serious coin. Consider the up front cost of these monsters, it's not a good idea.

They do fairly well, the little machines do a much better job at cutting, but it is a lot more effecent runing one bigger machine. Traction isn't to big of a issue as you can lift the deck, on the up hillside, to gain more traction and just cut with two decks. We've found it best to tag a ZTR with a 60in deck with this machine to get in between area where the 580 can't go.

Watch it though make sure the decks are aligned properly or you'll get a strip of uncut grass over certain terrian as the decks fold over hills.

If your cutting alot of grass in one spot or have a something like a school district that the buildings and fields are more centralized, where you can just road it between them. Its a good choice.